Georgia Injury Lawyers Blog
At Slappey & Sadd, we’re committed to helping accident victims get the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. We also believe that education is important, and we want to help Georgians avoid the errors that can undermine an otherwise valid claim. We covered a few of these mistakes in our prior post, and we’ll continue that discussion here.
Failing to Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
Many of us are far too busy to spend time in bed recovering. We need to go to work to support our families, and can’t afford to take time off for doctor’s appointments or physical therapy. Unfortunately, failing to follow the prescribed treatment can result in a denial of your claim. Opposing parties will argue that failing to follow your treatment plan made your injuries worse or use it as evidence that you weren’t really injured in the first place.
Not Getting Witness Statements
Witnesses are considered neutral third parties to the accident, and so they can bring tremendous value to your claim. A detailed statement from a key witness can help clarify important details and establish the cause of the accident. Unfortunately, witness statements can be difficult to get – people are busy or are reluctant to get involved. Failing to follow through on getting statements can make your case much more difficult to prove.
Handling Your Claim On Your Own
It is possible to handle your claim without a lawyer, but you are far less likely to recover as much as you would if you were represented by counsel. The insurance claim process is complicated, and they will use their expertise to stifle your efforts. If you have to go to court, be aware that you will be required to comply with court rules and procedures and expected to understand the rules of evidence.
An experienced car accident attorney knows the law and what you can expect in terms of fair compensation. They know how to navigate the claims process and can bring your case to trial in the event that you cannot reach a fair settlement of your claim.
Undervaluing Your Claim
If you’ve been injured, you know that you have a claim. But do you know how much your claim is worth? Many people undervalue their claim, especially if they have health insurance covering their medical bills. You need to understand what insurance doesn’t cover and that, under the law, you are entitled to be made whole. This means that you are entitled to be compensated for any out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, not limited to your medical bills. In addition, you are also entitled to receive compensation for your pain and suffering, which could be a very important part of your claim.
Injured in a Car Accident? Call a Georgia Car Accident Attorney to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Founded in 1992, the law firm of Slappey & Sadd has decades of experience in helping car accident victims get the compensation they deserve. We work with people in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia. Call us at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.